...once mom or dad has said that much, generally they should follow through and grant the thing, rather than raise and dash false hopes! Like, "Ok then, if I look at it this way instead, you'd only be grounded for one week, not two months..." Therefore it must be done! ;-)

Note: This does not mean I am projecting any parent-child power issues on my own part onto the administration here. I think it's a fair analogy.

And re this:

> > If it's a question of giving people a chance to repeat an experience, so as to learn enough from the repetitions that it would actually help change behavior, allowing people to come back and make mistakes and being blocked more often would, for me, make the learning process more probable. > > > > Honore> > I agree, it can be hard if someone's impulsive or needs many repetitions to learn, but if people can't make mistakes as often, there's less overall incivility and more supportive overall atmosphere.> >> Bob

But, after long blocks and sometimes even several of them for the same person, the depth of any uncivil impulses that could exist upon return could be exponential. Therefore, not going as far toward prevention as you think. A *little* of it more often til the lesson is learned or the impulse subsides; vs. possibly a lot of it in higher concentrations indefinitely. And add in, the general board discord that often results over long blocks in themselves.